tag:www.schneier.com,2015:/blog//2/tag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-2015-02-17T07:21:53ZComments for Hans Bethe on SecurityA blog covering security and security technology.Movable Typetag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-comment:25426Comment from Arturo Quirantes on 2005-11-17Arturo Quirantes
I don't quite agree with Bethe's statement. It was related to the fact that not all nuclear explosions were banned in the 1963 treaty.

But let's be realistic. The 1963 Test Ban treaty banned air, sea and space explosions, as well as underground blasts larger than 350 kilotons (IIRC). In short, all nuclear explosions that could be detected. In that sense, it did serve a limiting purpose. No more 20-megaton busters, no more tests fallout, and a limit nevertheless. Yeah, you can still build under-350kt bombs and explode them underground, but you would do it anyway, treaty or not.

It's a bit like saying that a shoplift-prevention device is useless because it fails to protect napkins, cookies or pencils. Fine, but it works against the 30'' flat-screen TV, so let's use it anyway and then try to improve it. Bethe's shop would be empty by now.

100% security? If that thing exists, Bruce would probably be out of business ;-)

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2005-11-17T11:20:27Z2005-11-17T11:20:27Ztag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-comment:25417Comment from ExpatEgghead on 2005-11-17ExpatEggheadhttp://expategghead.blogspot.com
Eisenhower kept the secret of the date for D-Day from journalists by telling them what it was. They then became paranoid about not revealing it rather than trying to find out when it was.]]>
2005-11-17T07:23:29Z2005-11-17T07:23:29Ztag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-comment:25310Comment from David Frier on 2005-11-16David Frierhttp://www.dfconsultants.com
"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good." It's an old chestnut. Did Mr Bethe coin it? ]]>
2005-11-16T09:33:52Z2005-11-16T09:33:52Ztag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-comment:25305Comment from egeltje on 2005-11-16egeltje
"The impossible is the enemy of the good enough...."
or:
Best is the enemy of better....]]>
2005-11-16T09:19:28Z2005-11-16T09:19:28Ztag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-comment:25229Comment from peachpuff on 2005-11-15peachpuff
"The impossible is the enemy of the good enough."

That old saying could slice either way. As I understand it, he's regretting that they only banned what they could detect. Banning nuclear tests that couldn't be reliably detected was seen as a security risk for honest countries. He thinks that a risk taken to make the ban total would have paid off in long-term safety (by doing more to stop the arms race).

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2005-11-15T21:41:07Z2005-11-15T21:41:07Ztag:www.schneier.com,2005:/blog//2.489-comment:25219Comment from Daedala on 2005-11-15Daedala
The impossible is the enemy of the good enough....]]>
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